Dentist Secrets You Probably Didn’t Know
We know you hate coming to the Dentist so check out these tips, and hopefully it won’t be as painful and expensive next time.
How To Eat Candy and NOT Get Cavities
What causes cavities is not what you eat but how often. Almost everything you eat has sugar in it. Every time you take a nibble, it takes 45 minutes for your saliva to neutralize the sugar off your teeth. So if you snack all day, your teeth will have sugar on them all day and you’ll get a cavity. The best way to eat candy is to eat it all at once. Enjoy, Lisa.
Stop Drowning In The Dentist Chair
A lot of patients find it super uncomfortable to lie flat during dental treatment, especially when water pools at the back of the throat for too long, triggering a gag reflex. We want you as relaxed as possible so, next time, simply ask your dentist to sit you upright at a 45-degree angle while they do their thing. This way, water pools in the bottom of your mouth instead of the back of your throat, making the experience much more comfortable for you. Just ask us, we do it all the time.
The Charcoal Scam
Dentists don't recommend using charcoal to whiten teeth because it doesn't actually work, and there's no proof that it does. It's also really abrasive, like sandpaper. So while it might remove stains, it does so by wearing down the top layer of your enamel. Enamel is precious and once lost, is very difficult to reverse. Enamel is what keeps teeth looking white, so ironically, using charcoal could make your teeth look darker over time.
Gum Is Good
Yes, chewing sugar-free gum is recommended by dentists because it helps boost saliva, which clears away food bits, neutralizes acids, and keeps your teeth strong. It's a handy way to protect your teeth when you can't brush right away.
Lose a Tooth. Save a Tooth
If you knock out an adult tooth, the best move is to gently clean it and pop it back into the socket ASAP. Avoid touching the root! The cells on the root can help it reattach, giving the tooth its best shot at survival. If you can’t put your tooth back into the socket, store it in between your lower teeth and gums so that your saliva can help keep the root cells alive until you get to the dentist. Either way, get to the dentist immediately if you want to save that tooth.
To Oil Pull, or Not to Oil Pull.
While oil pulling—a practice where you swish oil like coconut oil in your mouth—has some fans, there's not enough solid science behind it to say it really helps with things like gum disease, whitening, or cavity prevention. On the other hand, brushing twice a day and flossing once a day are proven by research to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Foaming at the Mouth
None of our products contain SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). SLS is found in almost all toothpastes and its only use is to make the toothpaste feel “foamy”. SLS is actually a very inflammatory ingredient which thins the lining of your mouth and can cause ulceration and canker sores. What really matters is brushing thoroughly with active ingredients like fluoride and hydroxyapatite. Dentists avoid SLS because it is bad for you and has no benefit.
Don’t Mouthwash After Brushing?
Using mouthwash right after brushing doesn’t really give your teeth and gums any extra benefits. In fact, it might be washing away the protective and rebuilding ingredients left from your toothpaste. So, after you brush, just spit and skip the rinsing and mouthwash. We recommend using mouthwash in the middle of the day, not directly after brushing.
Don’t Brush Too Much?
Yes, you can absolutely brush too much. We recommend no more than three times a day. The American Dental Association suggests brushing twice a day for two minutes with a soft toothbrush. Brushing too often can irritate your gums and teeth, and if you’re not careful, you might brush too hard, which can lead to gum recession and sensitivity. Most dentists recommend using a sonic toothbrush over a manual one because it’s gentler and makes it easier to brush thoroughly. We 100% concur.
Save the Guinea Pigs!
Guinea pigs are the most commonly used animal for testing toothpaste and, believe it or not, most of the major toothpaste companies still test on animals. At Made By Dentists, we do not test on animals or use any animal by-products in our products. Other brands that do not test on animals include Marvis, Bite, Dr. Bronner and Jason. Make the switch and help us save the guinea pigs.
Don’t Rinse? Are You Joking?
Most people don’t know about this but it’s true! After brushing your teeth, it's best to spit out the extra toothpaste but skip rinsing with water. That’s right, your toothpaste has some really great protective ingredients, and leaving them on your teeth and gums helps them work longer to keep your oral health in check. You're welcome.
Men or Women, Who Cries More?
Ha, the answer is, men. We’ve seen far more men faint or cry in the dental chair. You can make your own assumptions from there…. Don’t worry, we won’t be naming any names.